A judgment delivered by the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, which invalidated the African Democratic Congress, Accord Party, Action Peoples Party, Action Alliance, and Zenith Labour Party, has sparked severe outrage from members of opposition parties, who characterized the ruling as controversial and a major threat to the democratic process of Nigeria. High-profile figures, including the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, and the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, Senator David Mark, strongly faulted the decision directing the Independent National Electoral Commission to deregister the five political parties, warning of its far-reaching consequences. Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the ADC, Atiku Abubakar, also condemned the verdict, describing it as an attempt to weaken opposition forces ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The court order followed a judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu. The National Forum of Former Legislators had in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026 prayed the court to determine whether INEC has a constitutional obligation to remove political parties that failed to meet the electoral performance thresholds set out in Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), as reinforced by the Electoral Act 2022 and INEC’s regulations. The plaintiff had argued that the five political parties listed as defendants in the matter had persistently failed to meet the constitutional benchmarks required to retain their registration. The former legislators stressed that the requirements included winning at least 25 per cent of votes in a state during a presidential election or securing at least one elective seat at the national, state or local government level. They told the court that the ADC and the four other parties performed poorly in both the 2023 general elections and by-elections conducted by INEC, thereby failing to win seats across key tiers of government. Among other reliefs, the plaintiff urged the court to declare that INEC is duty-bound to deregister such parties and further urged the court to compel the commission to deregister the five political parties before preparations for the 2027 elections advance further.
Reacting to the development through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku stated that the judgment raised serious legal and constitutional concerns, particularly as it was delivered despite a subsisting order from the Court of Appeal staying proceedings. In the statement, Atiku noted, “The judgment represents a dangerous escalation of authoritarian tactics and a blatant assault on Nigeria’s democracy.” He added, “What makes the situation even more disturbing is that this judgment was purportedly delivered despite a clear and subsisting order of the Court of Appeal. On May 22, 2026, the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, granted an application staying further proceedings in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2025 pending the hearing and determination of the appeal before it.”
The former Vice President elaborated on the judicial hierarchy, stating, “The implication of that order is not ambiguous. A stay of proceedings means precisely what it says. It freezes every further step in the matter, including the delivery of judgment. Any action taken contrary to that order raises serious questions about respect for the hierarchy of courts and fidelity to the rule of law.” He further remarked, “This latest judgment therefore does not merely contradict a subsisting appellate order; it strikes at the very foundation of legal certainty and constitutional governance. If court orders can be treated as optional whenever they become inconvenient to those in power, then the rule of law itself is in grave danger,”
Atiku further linked the judicial outcome to a broader pattern by the current administration, stating, “It is becoming increasingly clear that the Tinubu administration is singularly focused on eliminating major political opponents ahead of 2027.” He stressed, “Rather than confronting the mounting crises facing the nation, rampant insecurity, economic hardship, rising poverty, unemployment, and the declining purchasing power of ordinary Nigerians, the government appears consumed by a desperate quest to neutralise every viable opposition platform.” He added, “This is not governance. It is political elimination by other means.” He also pointed out, “The Nigerian people can see what is happening. Opposition parties are being targeted. Democratic institutions are being pressured. State power is increasingly being deployed not for national development but for political survival,”
Reassuring his party members, Atiku vowed to challenge the verdict legally, stating, “We wish to reassure all members of the ADC, our supporters, and all Nigerians who believe in democratic competition that we will not be intimidated by these desperate manoeuvres.” He noted, “The battle before us transcends political parties. It is a battle for the soul of Nigerian democracy. It is a battle between those who believe in freedom of choice and those who seek to impose political uniformity through intimidation and institutional capture.” He announced, “We shall continue to pursue all lawful and constitutional avenues to defend our party, protect democratic freedoms, and preserve the multiparty system which remains the cornerstone of our constitutional order.” He concluded by stating, “We call on the judiciary, civil society organisations, the media, and all patriotic Nigerians to remain vigilant and resist every attempt to subvert democratic institutions for partisan advantage,” while adding, “Nigeria’s democracy was not won cheaply. It must not be surrendered cheaply.”
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State similarly argued that the deregistration violated the appellate court’s directive. Speaking through his spokesman, Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke noted, “It is on record before Honourable Justice Peter Lifu that in the record of proceedings of the Court of Appeal of 22nd May, 2026 and which was put before his Lordship as Exhibit MAC 2, the Court of Appeal specifically pronounced that ’The delivery of the judgement is still part of the proceedings of the Court.’” Urging calm among his supporters, the governor stated, “The Court of Appeal is taking up the matter tomorrow (today). This effort to stop Osun people from exercising their voting rights will fail by the special grace of Almighty God. The Rule of Law and Humanity shall prevail at the end of the day.” He added, “I call on Osun people to remain calm and be assured that our rights will be affirmed and our party, the Accord will be on the ballot on August 15th.” Adeleke further stated, “We will not only be on the ballot, we will win overwhelmingly the forthcoming governorship election. We should remain calm and forge ahead with mobilisation of our people.” He assured, “I also want to assure our people that the flag off of our campaign is holding as scheduled tomorrow (today). They want to distract us. We are going ahead and we are winning this election,” while confirming, “Our lawyers are taking all the necessary steps to right the wrong,”
The African Democratic Congress, through its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, rejected the judgment, stating, “The African Democratic Congress wishes to warn, in the strongest possible terms, against any attempt to use the judiciary as an instrument to undermine democracy and plunge Nigeria into a major political crisis.” Abdullahi stated, “We are deeply alarmed by the judgment reportedly delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in a case filed by the so-called National Forum of Former Legislators seeking the de-registration of the ADC and four other political parties. This judgment stands in direct conflict with constitutional principles and all known judicial processes and procedures.”
He revealed that INEC itself had previously defended the party in a counter-affidavit, stating, “The facts are straightforward. The plaintiffs had argued that the ADC and four other political parties failed to satisfy constitutional requirements relating to continued registration. However, in its counter-affidavit filed before the court in May, INEC, the constitutional body empowered with the registration, regulation, and supervision of political parties in Nigeria, categorically maintained that the ADC had not violated any registration requirements, had not failed any constitutional electoral-performance threshold, and that no legally recognised basis existed for its deregistration.” Abdullahi added, “INEC further made it clear that deregistration of a political party cannot be driven by political pressure, sentiment, or the wishes of interested parties. It must be based strictly on constitutionally established grounds, none of which had been proven against the ADC.”
The National Chairman of the ADC, Senator David Mark, speaking through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, described the ruling as an arrow fired at the heart of democracy but maintained optimism. Mark stated, “The judgment cannot stand. It will be set aside because it does not pass the test of law and due process. Our democracy must be protected from actions that seek to undermine the constitutional rights of political parties and the choices available to Nigerians,” He assured members by stating, “The ADC will be on the ballot in 2027. I assure all our candidates, members, and supporters that this temporary setback will be overcome through the judicial process. We remain resolute and confident in the rule of law,”
The Kwara State chapter of the ADC, via its Publicity Secretary, Abubakar Basambo, also reacted strongly. Basambo stated, “The African Democratic Congress, Kwara State Chapter, condemns in totality the recent judgment delivered by Hon. Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, ordering the deregistration of ADC and other political parties.” He替 argued, “To deregister political parties ahead of 2027 on the basis of past electoral performance is to rewrite the Constitution by judicial fiat,” He added, “The Constitution guarantees freedom of association and the right to form and belong to political parties. No court can legally erase political parties because they did not meet an artificial ‘25 per cent threshold’ that is not a condition for party existence under our laws,” Basambo further alleged, “This is clearly an attempt by forces within the ruling establishment to frustrate, intimidate, and destabilise parties that pose as credible alternatives in 2027,” while concluding, “It will not only kill our democracy, it will dent the sanctity and integrity of our electoral process,”
Former spokesman for Peter Obi’s Presidential Campaign Council and National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Yunusa Tanko, expressed shock, stating, “You can see it’s very clear that this government wants to set this country ablaze. It’s simple. There is no justification whatsoever to warrant it at this point in time when there is going to be an election,” He questioned the current leadership, asking, “What kind of legacy do they want to keep? And that is why we doubt the capacity of the INEC chairman. May God help us. But I’m sure the parties will appeal the judgment. Let them speak out and follow the judicial process.” Tanko concluded, “Definitely this demands another different kind of action. This is terrible, totally unacceptable and very chaotic for Nigeria at this time,”
National Publicity Secretary of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Osa Director, advised a legal path, stating, “As a lawyer, I believe that the cause of justice should be solved and that the parties have a right of appeal. They should exercise those rights. I don’t think there is need to panic over it,” He noted that the label of a witch-hunt depends on the facts, stating, “Well, it depends on what the constitutional requirements are. I cannot speak for the parties involved. If they meet constitutional requirements for the registration of parties or for the continuous existence of a party, one can see it as a witch-hunt. But if they didn’t, that means that it’s a challenge for them to stand up and meet those requirements. That’s why I said they have a right to appeal. And I encourage them to exercise that rights,”
The National Publicity Secretary of the Social Democratic Party, Rufus Aiyenigba, described the ruling briefly as a “Recipe for national crisis!” Furthermore, the Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party criticized the judgment through the Publicity Secretary of its interim National Working Committee, Ini Ememobong, who stated, “It’s a huge attempt at derailing democracy. Number two, it is a judgment that should be condemned by all and sundry. Number three, the freedom while we concede that the Constitution allows for the registration and deregistration of parties there are times when the timing of an action will speak more than the action itself.”
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